‘The Real’ gets real with Dolezal about race

Dolezal, the former NAACP chapter president who made headlines in June when her race came into question, faces that question Monday when she guests on the talk show “The Real.” The show’s hosts (Tamar Braxton, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Adrienne Bailon) lead a discussion on racial identity with Dolezal, a white woman who for years passed herself off as black. “The Real” is a one-hour talk airing weekdays on Fox Television Stations and in national syndication (check local listings) as well as cable network BET. Rachel Dolezal, who left her role as a local NAACP president in Washington state and lost a part-time university teaching job after it was revealed that she is a white, faces a spirited discussion on Monday’s episode of “The Real.” “You in my house. Okay, so let’s get real, alright?” Love said, underscoring the show’s penchant for frank talk. “It was hurtful to a lot of black women… there were some people that felt that you never identified yourself as white. And so they felt like maybe the scholarship or you know when you got admitted to Howard, that took a opportunity from a black woman.” Dolezal told Vanity Fair magazine this summer that she was braiding hair to support herself and her 13-year-old son.

Let me tell you, Rachel, if the police stop me…you can throw that off and show that little light, nice, fine hair up under [Loni gesturing to her hair]. So it’s a difference.” Dolezal’s appearance on “The Real” comes amid news that the show has been renewed for two more seasons, as we reported here. Black is a great thing, and I think she legit changed people’s perspective a bit and woke people up.” On “The Real” Dolezal wears her hair in long loose curls, as opposed to braids she has worn in the past, noted the AJC.